Universe, Human Species, Reality by Vanier, Jacques;

Short description:

The book describes the functioning of the material universe with the use of an intermediate mathematical language and is based entirely on physical phenomena, on reality, and does not use philosophical or theological argumentation based on abstract reasoning not anchored in physical observations. 

Long description:

Universe, Human Species, Reality: A Physicalist Approach describes the functioning of the material universe with the use of intermediate mathematical language. The book uses a physicalist approach in the sense that it is based entirely on physical phenomena and on reality, and does not use philosophical or theological argumentation based on abstract reasoning not anchored in physical observations.

Using these observations, the book develops the argument that the principle of least action plays a most important role in the functioning of the universe. Furthermore, if we extend our study, we may find an answer to some questions that have not been answered yet. As examples, we may mention a few of those, such as, the exact nature of the Big Bang, the essence of life, and the nature of the intellect–brain gap.

This book should be of interest to undergraduate students in physics and biology, and to the general science reader.

Key Features

• Addresses our understanding of the complete basic physics of the universe


• Uses a physicalist approach, rather than a philosophical and theological approach, in studying the nature of the universe


• Gives a rather unique conclusion relative to the functioning of the universe including Homo sapiens

Table of Contents:

Preface vii

Chapter 1 Introduction 1

Chapter 2 The Universe 4

2.1 A Short Trip Through the Universe 5

2.2 Physical Interactions Within the Universe 12

2.2.1 Gravitational Interaction 12

2.2.2 Electromagnetic Interaction 12

2.2.3 Strong Nuclear Interaction 13

2.2.4 Weak Nuclear Interaction 13

2.3 Physics Behind All That 13

2.3.1 Reality of the World 14

2.3.2 Our Tools 16

2.3.3 Our Goal 18

2.3.4 Minimum Energy and the Concept of Equilibrium 29

2.3.5 Conservation of Energy 30

2.3.6 An Astonishing General Principle; the Least Action Principle 33

2.3.7 Mechanical Energy 44

2.3.8 Internal Energy 44

2.3.9 Heat 45

2.3.10 Some Other Forms of Energy 46

2.3.11 Some Other Conservation Laws 47

2.3.12 Limits in Energy Exchanges: The Concept of Entropy 48

Chapter 3 Human Species 100

3.1 Our Body 101

3.1.1 Living Cells 103

3.1.2 Dynamics and Functions of Cells 115

3.1.3 Homo sapiens Brain and Mental Activities 128

3.2 Life, Origin, and Evolution 150

3.2.1 A Resume of the History of the Universe 150

3.2.2 On the Origin of Life 152

3.2.3 Speculations 159

3.2.4 Evolution 162

3.2.5 Darwinism 164

3.2.6 Subsequent Developments 168

3.2.7 Alternative Approaches 171

3.3 Homo sapiens 172

Chapter 4 Realism and Physicalism 178

4.1 Some Preliminary Remarks 178

4.1.1 Does Physics Deal with Reality? 178
4.2 Physics and Meta-Worlds 182

Chapter 5 Conclusion 186

5.1 Our World 186

5.2 Matter, Space, Time 186

5.3 Mathematics 188

5.4 Basic Principle: Principle of Least Action, Lagrangians 189

5.5 An Overview 192

5.6 The Fundamental Questions 193

5.7 Life 194

5.8 The Mind 195

5.9 Language 195

5.10 Society and Culture 196

5.11 Myths 196

5.12 Homo sapiens Successes and Failures 197

5.12.1 Successes 197

5.13 Our Future 200

5.13.1 What Is That Universe? 203

5.13.2 What Are We? 204

5.13.3 Who Are We? 204 

Bibliography .................................................................................................................................207

Annexes .........................................................................................................................................209

Annex A Elements of Mathematics; A Short and Easy Course in Mathematics, for the Newcomer in the Field. ................................................................................. 211

Annex B The International System of Units (SI): New 2019 Version...................................226

Annex C Relativity, Time, and Space ......................................................................................230

Annex D Quantum Physics ...................................................................................................... 241

Annex E Lagrangians ...............................................................................................................248

Annex F Cosmology .................................................................................................................. 253

Annex G Gravity, Relativity, and Black Holes ....................................................................... 262

Annex H MRI and PET: Physics in help to Medicine ........................................................... 273

Annex I Our Senses: Elementary Physics About Two of Them .......................................... 276

Index ..............................................................................................................................................287